They Shot My Gun - 1969-70
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Bill Busygin and I were flying our LOH low and slow just ahead of a rifle company of the Wolfhounds when we spotted a lone hooch to the rifle company's front, about 75 meters. I did a slow turn over the hooch and a single shot (probably from an SKS) came from the hooch and cut the bungee cord holding Bill's M60D Door Gun, perfectly.
The gun went hurtling to the ground but its impact was dulled by the dense foliage. The round continued through the cockpit, having been duly deflected, missed my hand on the cyclic by an inch or so, and exited between my feet on the pedals, making a nice hole with associated cracks in the chin bubble.
Bill yelled at me to ask if I was hurt -- instant, adrenaline-filled reaction. Then, as I responded no, he went slump in the seat. I thought he must be hit because he was so slumped over and still saying nothing more. An eternity seemed to pass as I kept asking if he was hurt; then, suddenly recovering and in a voice like a baby's he said: "They shot my gun. I lost my gun."
As I asked for more detail, he explained what he thought had happened -- which was undoubtedly true. A lucky shot. But Bill, a man who broke down his M60 nearly every night, cleaned it, put a new bolt in it more often than not, and babied it lovingly, was utterly crestfallen.
So, end of story: I contacted the commander of the rifle company on the ground, told him what happened. Even offered some trading material if his men could find Bill's gun. They did, and we effected a trade. Bill got his gun back